Leather-polishing machine



C. RUHE.

LEATHER POLISHING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED FEB- ?7. I920.

Patented June 13,1922.

2 SHEETS-SHEET I.

l c. RUHE.

LEATHER POLISHING MACHINE.

APPLICATION man FEB. 21. I920.

1,41 9,52%, Patented June 113, 1922.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

- W/ 7/Vf55 STATES it flfl i l f CARLETON RUE-IE, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

LEATHER-POLISHING MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 13, 1922.

To all QF/LOY/Z it may concern:

Be it known that l, OARLETON Roi-1E, a citizen of the United States residing in the city, county, and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Leather-Polishing Machines, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to a machine for brushing leather and more particularly to a leather polishing machine for polishing or finishing sole leathers in one operation such.

as sides backs. bends, bellies, and also harness leather. lily invention is an improvement of my prior patent Reissue No. 13,984, reissued September 21, 1915.

One of the objects of my invention is to provide a rotary brush leather polishing machine with a vertically movable flat platform in combination with a conveyor for the leather running over the platform whereby leather may be presented flat to the brushes of the machine and be supported at all points while passing between and under the brushes and through the machineat the same time providing means for raising the platform so as to subject the leather while being polished to the high pressure necessary for producing a correct finish.

Another object of my invention is to provide a flat bed for the he raised uniformly and simultaneously at a l points by means of a system of screws connected by a chain and sprocket, the heavy thrust to which the platform is subjected during the polishing action being taken up b v ba l bearings. Despite the heavy pressure of the brushes the platform is easily moved up and down by means of a handwheel.

My invention consists more especially in the parts. improvements and combinations herein describedv and more particularly pointed out in the claims.

l leferring now to the accompanying drawings forming a part of the specification, Fig. l is a side elevation of my improved rotary brush polishing machine with a part broken a w ay.

F 2 is a sectional detail showing part of the mechanism for raising the platform.

Fig. 5 a detail view of the gearing for connecting the supports for the platform so that they may be raised simultaneously.

The sides 1 of the metal frame of the machine are connected by tie-bars 2 so as to provide a firm foundation. A. plurality of conveyor which may rotary brushes 3, l 5 are carried by the frame and extend crosswise thereof. The shafts 8, 'T and 8 of the brushes are parallel and are arranged in bearings adapted to oscillate slightly. These bearings include a collar 9 mounted to oscillate slightly on screws 10, the said screws in turn being carried by yoke 11 to which is secured a pivot pin 12 free to turn in socket 13. One of these hearings is mounted at each end of brush shaft 6, T and S. The ends of the shaft are thus pivotally supported so that they may readil 1 align themselves. Gearing is provided for connecting the brushes. the brushes being driven from a pulley (not shown) on the far end of shaft 7 of brush at. The brushes are rotated at a higher speed than the conveyor driving shaft and all of the brushes are rotated in the same direction. The intermediate brush 7 is driven at a greater rate of speed than the outer brushes. The conveyor driving shaft carries at one end the gear 15 which in turn meshes with the reduction gear 16 on shaft 17, the opposite end of the shaft '17 carrying gear 18 which is driven by the belt 20. The belt 20 passes around the reducing pulley 21 upon the shaft of the brush 8. the said shaft also carrying the sprocket gear 22 around which pas es the chain 23 which in turn engages the sprocket 24- on the power shaft 7. A s n'ocket chain. and a sprocket 26 connect shaft 7 of brush 4t with the shaft (3 of brush 3. This system of brushes and the driving irrecliai'iisin therefor as wel as the bearings for the brushes are substantially the same as those o if my prior Patent No. 13115.90?) of January 191?. A conveyor in the form of an endless conveying apron 27 extends beneath the brushes for receiving the leather to be polished. This conveying apron which is preferably a rubber-covered belt, is driven from the power shaft 7 and runs around the rollers 28 and29 at opposite ends of the machine. said rollers being carried by swinging arms 30, 31 and the con-.'eyo1;' being tightened by means of set screws 32 and The speed of t 10 conveyor which feeds the leather through the machine is much less than the surface speed of the brushes.

Coming now to the leading feature of my invention I provide in combination with the conveyor and brushes a flat platform extending from the brush at the feeding end of the machine, at the left of Fig. 1, to the brush at the delivery end of the machine, at

the right of Fig. 1. This platform lies between the side frames of the machine and within the conveyor and provides a firm level support for the upper portion thereof. It is mounted independently of the conveyor.

Means for raising and lowering all portions of the platform uniformly are provided. A plurality of vertically adjustable posts one at each corner of the platform, is utilized. The platform is dctachably secured to these posts by means of brackets 34 secured to the platform, the posts be ing provided with projections 35 passing into the apertures of the brackets. A driftpin 36 detachably secures the posts to the brackets and prevents rotation of the posts. The posts carry screw thread portions 3'? which are in turn engaged by screw thread sleeves 38, the sleeves 58 being carried by the fixed frame. By turning the sleeves 38, the screws 37 and the platform are raised or lowered, the platform moving with respect to the brushes and the conveyor. (fearing is provided so that upon turning one screw threaded sleeve all of the screw threaded posts are uniformly raised and lowered, the gearing" actuating the sleeves. As illustrated, I make use of sprockets 39, l0, eel, 42, each sprocket being secured to the corresponding sleeve. A sprocket chain 4L3 connects the sprockets so as to give the movement to the screw threaded sleeves. Owing: to the pressure to which the bed is subjected and the desirability that it may not bind or stick at any corner and to provide an easily operated mechanism I make use of thrust ball bearings 44, the balls of which run between plates 45. One of the plates 45 is secured to the frame of the machine and the other is attached to the screw threaded sleeve. A hand-wheel 46 is secured to one of the sleeves 38, thus providing a manually operated means for actuating the raising mechanism of the platforn'i.

To secure compactness of the machine and ease of access to the raising mechanism for the platform I mount the posts which support the platform and the sleeves for actuating them in inwardly projecting; brackets 4:7. These brackets are referably integrally connected with the side frames of the machine, are mounted between the upper and lower reaches of the conveyor belt, and are located beneath the end brushes. In this way the brackets for the platform and the raising and lowering mechanism are arranged directly beneath the platform, between the frames of the machine and in the upper portion thereof, provide a rigid sup-- port for the table, and the mechanism can be easily inspected and is accessible and repaired if necessary by merely removingthe conveyor belt or by getting under the ma chine. I

The platform preferably comprises cross relates pieces 48 secured to the side braces 49, a series of longitudinal strips 50 being laid upon andv carried by the cross braces so as to make a flat, level table-top.

lrlavinn thus described the invention the operation will be clear. The machine is driven by power and a piece of leather is laid. upon the conveying belt at the left hand side of the machine in Fig. 1, and is carried through the machine at a uniform speed over the flat table-top and under the rotatable brushes. The table-top has been previously adjusted so as to give the desired polishing pressure between the leather and the brushes. The leather whose grained side has preferably been treated with a compound is kept flat in its passage through the machine because of the flat platform over which the conveyor rides, the polishing action over the entire surface of the leather is unifm'm and a glossy. uniform finish re sults. The table gives a uniform pressure against each brush from end to end and the same pressure against all the brushes. The leather cannot sag as it passes through the machine nor bind, and is completely sup ported at all points. The bed may be easily raised and owered when desired to vary the pressure according to the character of the stock to be finished. The platform is moved transversely of the conveyor, the conveyor passing around rollers carried by the frame of the machine and the platform being! mounted independently of the conveyor.

It will be understood that the structure thus hereinbefore specifically described may be varied in a great number of details, and that certain features thereof may be used in the absence of others without departing from the spirit of the invention and such changes in detail of construction and such uses of some in the absence of others. are intended to be within the scope of the claims hereto appended.

Having described my invention, what I claim is:

1. In a leather polishing machine the combination of a frame. a flat platform mounted between the sides of the frame independently of the conveyor, an endless conveyor passing above said platform and returning beneath the same. thus forming a flat work support for the leather to be polished. said. conveyor carried by rollers mounted in the frame of the machine, a

plurality of rotary brushes carried by said frame above said conveyor, means for driving said conveyor at lower speed than that of the brushes and means for raising and lowering said platform with respe t to said brushes and conveyor.

2. To a leather polishing machine the combination of a frame. a flat platform mounted between the sides of the frame. an endless conveyor passing above said platform and returning beneath the same, thus forming a lat worl; support for the leather to be polished. inllers mounted on the frame of the machine arouiuil which the conveyor travels, said conveyor being thereby mounted independently of the platform, a plurality of rotary brushes carried by said frame above said con ve gearin dri.'in; t e outer rotary brushes at lhmll, speed than that of the intermedi e brush, means for driving said conveyor at a lower speed than that of the brushes a plurality of supports for the platform, mechanism for connecting said su iports so that the platform may be raised uniformly and manually operated means for actuating said raising mechanism.

h ii.

5. in a leather polishing machine the combination of a frame, three rotatable brushes extending crosswise of the frame, gearing connecting said. brushes, a power shaft for driving; said brushes, all of said brush-es rotating in the same direction and. the intermediate brush being driven at a greater speed than the outer brushes, an endless conveying a pron extendingbeneath the brushes for receiv ng the leather to be polished, said conveying apron being driven from the powe shaft at a lower speed than the brushes, a flat platform lying within the conveyor a ud supporting the upper portion thereof, said platform extending from the brush at the feeding end of the machine to the brush at the delivery end of the machine, a plurality of vertically adjustable posts. one at each corner of the platform, connecting gearing whereby said posts are raised and lowered so as to uniformly move the platform and a hand-wheel for operating said gearing.

st. in a leather polishing machine the combination of a frame, three rotatable brushes extending: crosswise of the frame. gearing connecting said brushes, a power shaft for driving said brushes, all of the brushes rotating in the same direction and th intermediate brush being dri 'en at a sweater rate of speed than the out if brushes, an endless conveying apron extending beneath the brushes for receiving the leather to be pol- 'islied. said conveying); apron being driven fron the power shaft at a lower speed than the brnshes, a flat platform lying within the conveyor and supporting the upper portion thereof. said platform extending from the brush at the feeding end of the machine to the brush at the delirerv end of the machii a plurality of vertically adjustable sci", one at each corner of the platform, a pinrality of threaded sleeves, one f r each screw carried by the frame. gearing for conne ting said sleeves whereby the screws are raised and lowered so as to uniformly raise and lower the platform and. a hant-ivheel for operating said gearing.

0. In a leather polishing machine the combination of a frame, rotatable brushes e2:- tending crosswise of the frame, gearing connecting said brushes, a power shaft for driving said brushes, all of the brushes rotating in the same direction and the intern diate brush being driven at a greater rate of speed than the outer brushes, an endless conveving apron extending beneath the br i for receivingthe leather to be polished, r veying apron being driven from the shaft at a lower speed than the brus ies, a flat platform lying w't-hin the conveyor and supporting the upper portion thereof, said platform extending from the brush at the feeding end of the machine to the brush at the delivery end of the machine, a plurality of vertically adjustable scre vs, one at ea'h corner of the platform, a plurality of threaded sleeves, one for each screw carried by the frame, ball. bearings betwe n each of said sleeves and the frame, gearing for counesting said sleeves whereby the screws are raised and lowered so as to raise and lower all portions of the platftn'm uniformly and a hand-wheel for operating said gearing.

G. in a leather polishing machine the combination of a frame, three rotatable brushes extei'iding crosswise of the frame. gearinflj connecting said brushes, a power shaft for driving said brushes, all of the brushes rotating in the same direction and the intermediate brush being driven at a greater rate of speed than the outer brushes. an endless ronreying a1 ron extending beneath the brushes for receiving the leather to be polished, said conveying apron being driven from. the power shaft, a fiat platform lyini within the ronveying apron and supportii 5 the upper portion thereof. said platform extend ng from the brush at the feeding end of the machine to the brush at the delivery end of the machine, a plurality of verticall i' adjustable posts, one at each corner of the platform, an endless chain for connecting said posts whereb; they are raised and lowered so as to uniformly and lower the pla forijn and a hand-wheel for operating said endless chain. 7. in a a: r polishing machine the cmnbination or 4. ise of the frame. gearint! ,fJ-l'llSllQS. a power shaft for ne direction and the interbeing driven at a greater rate of speed than the oute brushes, an endless conveying apron extending beneath the brushes for receiving the leather to be polished, said conveying apron being driven from the power shaft, a flat platform lying within the conveying apron and supporting the upper portion thereof, said platform extending from the brush at the feeding end of the machine to the brush at the delivery end of the machine, a plurality of vertically frame, rotatable brushes es, all of the brushes re lll) adjustable screws, one at each corner of. the platform, a plurality of threaded sleeves, one for each screw carried by the frame, ball bearings between each of said sleeves and the frame, an endless chain for connecting said sleeves whereby tl e screws are raised and lowered so as to uniformly raise and lower the platform and a hand-wheel for operating said. gearing.

8. In a leather polishing machine the combination of a frame, rotatable brushes extending crosswise of the frame, gearing connecting said brushes, a power shaft for driving said brushes, all of the brushes ro tatinn; in the same direction and the intermediate brush being driven at a greater rate of speed than the outer brushes, an. endless conveying apron extending beneath the brushes for receiving the leather to be polished, said conveying apron being driven from the power shaft, a flat platform lying within the conveying apron and supporting the upper portion thereof, said platform exending from the brush at the feeding end of the machine to the brush at the delivery end of the machine, a plurality of vertically adjustable posts, one at each corner of the platform, said platform being removably secured to said posts, gearing for connecting said posts so as to uniformly raise and lower all. portions of said platform, and a hand wheel for operating said gearing.

9. In a leather polishing machine the combination of a frame, three rotatable brushes extending; crosswise of the frame, belts connecting; said brushes, a power shaft for driving said brushes, all of the brushes being rotated in the same direction andthe intermediate brush being; driven a greater rate of speed than the outer brushes, an end less conveying apron extending beneath the brushes for receiving: the leather to be polished, said conveying apron being driven from the power shaft, a flat platform lying; within the conveying apron and supporting, the upper portion thereof, said platform extending from the brush at the feeding; end of the machine to the brush. at the delivery end of the machine, a plurality of vertically adjustable posts, one at each corner of the platform, gearing for connecting said posts whereby they are raised and lowered so as to uniformly raise and lower all portions of said platform, and a hand-wheel for operating said gearing.

10. ln a leather polishing machine the combination of a frame. a power shaft, a C011- vex roller at one end of the machine, a roller at the other end of the machine, an endless conveyor passingabout said rollers and driven from the power shaft, a plurality of rotary brushes for polishing the leather, said brushes comprising two end brushes and an intermediate brush, the axes of the brushes being parallel and extending above and adjacent to the conveyor, multiplying; gearing including belts connecting said brushes with the power shaft for driving said brushes at a higher rate of speed than and in the same direction as the conveyor, the multiplying gearingbetween the intermediate brush and one of the outer brushes being arranged so that said intermediate brush is driven at a higher speed than the outer brushes, a flat platform for supporting the feeding portion of the belt, said platform extending between the outer brushes beneath the intermediate brush and between the ends of each brush so as to provide a firm, level. support between the brushes and throughout their entire field of operation. a plurality of supports, one for each end of said platform, and means for raising and lowering said supports so as to uniformly raise and lower all portions of said platform.

11. In a leather polishing machine the combination of a frame, a power shaft mounted in the frame, a roller carried by the power shaft, a roller at the other end of the machine, an endless conveyor passing about said rollers and driven from the power shaft, a plurality of rotary brushes for polishing the leather, said brushes comprising two end brushes and an intermediate brush, the axes of the brushes being parallel and extending above and adjacent to the conveyor, multiplying gearing including; belts connecting; said brushes with the power shaft for driving said brushes at a higher rate of speed than and in the same direction as the conveyor, the multiplying gearin g between the intermediate brush and one of the outer brushes being arranged so that said intermediate brush is driven at a higher speed than the outer brushes, a flat platform for supporting the feeding portion of the belt, said platform extending between the outer brushes beneath the intermediate brush and between the ends of each brush so as to provide a firm, level support between CARLETON RUHE.

lVitnesses lV. F. BrssiNG, JEROME REMTZ. 

